Actuator means for use with aerosol dispensers

ABSTRACT

Actuator means adapted for securement to an aerosol container, including a cap and a toggle-type actuator having a nozzle so that the application of manual pressure against the toggle-type actuator will operate the valve stem of the aerosol container to depress or move the valve stem inwardly and permit the contents of the aerosol container to be discharged therefrom, said toggletype actuator having means cooperating with the cap to lock the actuator against relative movement with respect to said cap and to the valve stem to prevent any discharge of the contents of the aerosol container during shipment and during non-use of same and also prevent the accidental operation of the valve stem.

[ Apr. 10, 1973 3,323,690 6/1967Monahon.........r..............222/402.l3

[54] ACTUATOR MEANS FOR USE WITH AEROSOL DISPENSERS PrimaryExaminerRobert B. Reeves [75]- Inventors Efrem ostmwsky HlghlandAssistant Examiner-Frederick R. Handren Park, William G. Crowle,Deerfield,

AttomeyMax R. Kraus v both of I11.

[73] Assignee: Federal Tool & Plastics, a Division [57] ABSTRACTActuator means adapted for securement to an aerosol of VCA Corporation,Chicago, Ill.

June 23, 1971 [22] Filed: container, including a cap and a toggle-typeactuator having a nozzle so that the application of manual pres sureagainst the toggle'type actuator will operate the [21] Appl. No.:155,738

valve stem of the aerosol container to depress or move the valve steminwardly and permit the contents of the aerosol container to bedischarged therefrom, said toggle-type actuator having means cooperatingwith the cap to lock the actuator against relative movement 52 3 0..J55%2 25 0 2 4 59 l m l w im 0 M04 41 u. an 2 KM L m C d UIF 1]] 218 555[[l with respect to said cap and to the valve stem to prevent anydischarge of the contents of the aerosol container during shipment andduring non-use of same [56] References Cited and also prevent theaccidental operation of the valve ste UNITED STATES PATENTS 222/505 xMHZ/40213 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Wakeman Crowell ACTUATOR MEANSFOR USE WITH AEROSOL DISPENSERS BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to actuator means including a cap and a toggle-typeactuator formed with a nozzle which is operatively connected to thevalve stem of an aerosol unit so that by applying an inward manualpressure against the toggle-type actuator the valve stem will bedepressed or moved inwardly relative to the aerosol container to permitthe contents of the aerosol container to be discharged therefrom. Thetoggle-type actuator has means cooperating with the cap for positivelylocking the toggle-type actuator with respect to the cap and the valvestem and thereby prevents any discharge of the contents of the aerosolcontainer through the valve stem during shipment and during non-useandvalso prevents the accidental operation of the valve stem.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the foregoingcharacter which may be economically formed as two components, each ofplastic material and injection molded, and may be readily applied andused in connection with aerosol dispensers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS- In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a viewshowing the cap with the toggle-type actuator in alocked position relative to the cap.

FIG. 2 is a central sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, showingthe actuator in a locked position as in FIG. 1, with the cap positionedon an aerosol container.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the toggle-type actuatorin actuated position to. depress the valve stem to open position.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view.

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a view taken on line 77 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the toggle-type actuator substantiallyin the position it occupies in the cap.

FIG. 9 is a centralsectional view of the toggle-type actuator in ahorizontal position, and

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the cap. v

This invention is adapted for use in connection with aerosol containershaving a depressible valve stem. The conventional aerosol container,indicated by the numeral 10, is provided with a closure or mounting cup12 which is peripherally clinched to the container in the conventionalmanner to provide an annular head 13. The closure or mounting cup 12 hasa central opening partially through which extends the conventionaldepressible valve stem 14 which is spring biased and which is normallymaintained in its elevated or raised position to close the dischargeoutlet through said valve stem. When the valve stem 14 is depressed orpushed inwardly relative to the container and parallel to the axis ofthe container then the aerosol material in the container is dischargedthrough the valve stem.

jection molding and are formed of a plastic material. The toggle-typeactuator 18 is formed with an integrally formed dispensing nozzlegenerally designated by the numeral 20.

The cap 16 is provided with an outer annular body or shell 22 and aninner generally funnel-shaped portion 24 connected to the outer shell atthe top as at 25. The

' inner funnel-shaped portion 24 has an inverted conicalshaped upperportion 26 which terminates in a tubular or sleeve-like portion 28positioned axially of the cap. The inner funnel-shaped portion 24 of thecap is spaced from the inner wall of the shell 22 to provide a space 29which accommodates the toggle-type actuator 18.

The body or shell 22 of the cap has an upper portion 30 and a lowerportion or skirt 34, there being a slight draft for molding purposes.Approximately centrally of 'the height of the cap there is a pair ofdiametrically positioned alined rectangular-shaped slots 36 havingopposite edges 38. Alined vertically in the upper portion 30 of the capwith the diametrically positioned slots 36 are stepped-in portions 31extending from the top of the cap to the slots. From the stepped-inportion 31 to the skirt 34 there is an outwardly inclined portion, thedifference being substantially the thickness of the wall of the shell.The draft, the stepped-in portions and the inclined portions areprincipally for expediting molding and reducing cost.

The lower end of the skirt of the cap has an inwardly extending annularlip or flange 40 which, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is adapted toengage the annular bead 13 on the container for the purpose ofnondetachably securing the cap to the container.

The interior wall of the cap body or shell 22 is provided with aplurality of spaced vertically extending reinforcing ribs 42, the lowerends 43 of which terminate above the bottom of the cap to rest on thetop of the bead 13 to properly seat the cap on the top of the can. Theinterior of the cap adjacent the top thereof has a plurality ofdownwardly extending inclined ribs 44, which ribs are between the outershell 22 and the inner funnel-like wall 24 and the ribs are positionedin substantially vertical alinement with the slots 36. Ex-

tending between the outer and inner walls of the cap and connected tosaid walls are four radially extending The unit forming this inventionis formed of two toggle-type actuator are each integrally molded byinfins or ribs 46, best seen in FIG. 7, which are in an offset positionwith respect to the slots 36. The fins or ribs 46 serve to rigidify theoutside wall of the cap and to prevent any pressure applied thereagainstfrom pushing the outside wall inwardly. The skirt and the intermediateportion of the cap adjacent each of the opposite edges 38 of the slots36 are provided with vertically extending ribs or bosses 48 which areengaged by the toggle-type actuator to effect a locking between theactuator and the cap.

The toggle-type actuator 18, best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, is integrallymolded of plastic material and comprises a central section 50 with anintermediate adjacent section 52 on each side of the central section anda generally L-shaped section 54 adjacent each of the intermediatesections 52. A hinge 56 is formed between the central and intermediatesections 50 and 52, and a hinge 58 is formed between the intermediateand the L-shaped sections 52 and 54, the material along the hinges 56and 58 being of less thickness than the material of the'sections. Theends of the sections adjacent the hinges are tapered or inclined asindicated at 60, 62 and 64.

The L-shaped section 54 has an upwardly extending portion 66 with alaterally extending portion or extension 68 which is shorter than theupwardly extending portion 66 but is of a greater thickness. Thelaterally extending portion or extension 68 is provided with a cutout orrecess 70 which is generally L-shaped so that at the cutout or recessthere is an open space adjacent the juncture between the upwardlyextending portion 66 and the lateral extension 68, there being two suchcutouts or recesses 70, one on each of the extensions 68 but they facein opposite directions. As viewed in FIG. 8, one cutout 70 facesforwardly whereas the other cutout faces rearwardly. These oppositelyfacing cutouts serve to provide the means for locking the toggle-typeactuator with respect to the cap to prevent actuation of the toggle-typeactuator when in locked position, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The central section 50 of the toggle-type actuator 18 is provided with acentrally positioned nozzle having an axial bore 72 which communicatesat the lower end with an enlarged recess 74 defining a shoulder 75. Asbest seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the nozzle 20 is positioned on the valvestem 14 with the upper end of the valve stem within the recess 74abutting against the shoulder 75. The interior of the valve stem is thusin direct communication with the axial bore 72 of the nozzle 20 throughwhich the material discharged from the valve stem passes to bedischarged from the nozzle.

In assembling the unit, the toggle-type actuator 18 is inserted into thecap from the bottom open end of the cap and the nozzle 20 is positionedin the tubular or sleeve-like portion 28 of the inner funnel-shapedportion of-the cap. When inside the cap the lateral extensions 68 extendthrough the cap slot openings 36 with the upwardly extending portions 66extending up into the interior of the cap and with the free ends thereofabutting against the inclined ribs 44 and against the inner wall of thefunnel-shaped portion.

In normal nonoperative position, such as when in locked position, oreven when unlocked but in nonactuating position, the toggle-typeactuator will be positioned with the parts substantially as shown inFIG. 2, that is, the extensions 68 will extend outwardly of the capslots 36 to their maximum extended position and the upwardly extendingportions 66 will extend substantially parallel with the outside shelland with the intermediate sections 52 inclined between the centralhorizontal section 50 and the outer sections. When in this nonactuatingposition the toggle-type actuator may be locked relative to the cap bymanually engaging the extensions 68 of the actuator and rotating theactuator slightly clockwise to that the oppositely facing recesses 70 inthe extensions abut against the adjacent edges 38 of theslots 36, asbest seen in FIGS. 1 and 7, wherein the recessed portion of theextension will engage the vertically extending ribs 48. This locks thetoggle-type actuator 18 relative to the cap and serves to maintain thenozzle 20 of the actuator, as well as the central section 50 of theactuator in its most elevated position in the cap, as shown in FIG. 2.In this position the valve stem 14 is in its nondepressed position andthe spring (not shown) within the valve assembly of the conventionalvalve stem will normally maintain the valve stem 2, to close the valvestem and prevent any of the material within the container from passingthrough the stem. It is in this locked position of the toggle-typeactuator that the aerosol container with the cap thereon may be shippedand in such position the valve stem 14 will not be operable to openposition. With the toggletype actuator in the position shown in FIGS. 1and 2 where the nozzle on the actuator is locked against beingdepressed, or where the nozzle even when unlocked is in its elevated ornondepressed position, the valve stem will remain in closed position.

When it is desired to release some of the material from the container,the toggle-type actuator is rotated slightly counter clockwise or in theopposite direction from that previously rotated so that the cutouts inthe extensions 68 are clear from engagement with the edges 38 of theslots 36 and this will permit the extensions 68 to be manually engagedand pressed inwardly, as shown in FIG. 3. When pressed inwardly theparts of the toggle-type actuator will be positioned as shown in FIG. 3,with the free ends of the upwardly extending portions 66 bearing againstthe ribs 40 and causing the central portion 50 of the toggle-typeactuator to assume a lowered position and correspondingly with it willcause the valve stem 14 to be depressed to thereby open the valve stemto permit the discharge of the material from the aerosol container.

As long as the extensions of the toggle-type actuator are maintained inthe position shown in FIG. 3, wherein they are manually pressedinwardly, the valve stem 14 will be open and the material in thecontainer will be discharged. However, when the extensions 68 aremanually released the spring in the valve stem assembly 14 will returnthe valve stem to its closed position and at the same time will allowthe toggle-type actuator to move to the position shown in FIG. 2 (exceptthat it is unlocked) since the toggle-type actuator naturally tends tomove towards its original as molded position providing a small amount ofspring return action due to the plastic memory of the polyolefinmaterial.

What is claimed is:

1. Actuator means for actuating the valve stem of an aerosol containerfor dispensing the material within the container, said means including acap adapted to be secured to the container and extend over the valvestem, said cap having an opening in the side thereof, a toggle-typeactuator having means extending within said cap and means extendingoutwardly of said side opening, said toggle-type actuator adapted to beoperatively connected to the valve stem so that when the out wardlyextending means is pressed inwardly the toggletype actuator will depressthe valve stem inwardly relative to the aerosol container to open thevalve and discharge the contents from the aerosol container, saidoutwardly extending means comprising an extension which has a cutoutadapted when in locked position to be moved against the edge of the sideopening of the cap to prevent the extension from being moved in? wardlyto thereby lock the toggle-type actuator against operation.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the toggle-type actuatorcomprises a central section having the nozzle formed as part of thecentral section, an intermediate adjacent section on each side of thecentral section and a generally L-shaped section adjacent each of theintermediate sections with the intermediate section hinged to thecentral section and with the L- shaped section hinged to theintermediate section, and wherein the L-shaped section has an extensionextending outwardly of the cap through the side openings of the cap tobe manually engaged.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the toggle-type actuatoris integrally molded of a plastic material.

4. Actuator means for actuating the valve stem of an aerosol containerfor dispensing the material within the container, said means including acap adapted to be secured to the container and extend over the valvestem, said cap having diametrically opposed side openings, a toggle-typeactuator having means extending within said cap and a pair ofdiametrically positioned outwardly extending means extending outwardlyof said opposed side openings, said toggle-type actuator adapted to beoperatively connected to the valve stem so that when the outwardlyextending means are simultaneously pressed inwardly the toggle-typeactuator will depress the valve stem inwardly relative to the aerosolcontainer to open the valve and discharge the contents from the aerosolcontainer, each said outwardly extending means comprising an extensionwhich has a cutout with the cutouts facing in opposite directions andwhereby each of the cutouts is adapted to engage the adjacent edge ofthe side opening to lock the toggle-type actuator against any manualinward pressure,

5. A structure as set forth in claim 4 in which the toggle-type actuatoris integrally molded of a plastic material.

6. Actuator means for actuating the valve stem of an aerosol containerfor dispensing the material within the container, said means including acap adapted to be secured to the container and extend over the valvestem, said cap having diametrically opposed side openings, a toggle-typeactuator having means extend-. ing within said cap and a pair ofdiametrically positioned means extending outwardly of said opposed sideopenings, said toggle-type actuator adapted to be 'operatively connectedto the valve stem so that when the outwardly extending means aresimultaneously pressed inwardly the toggle-type actuator willdepressthevalve stem inwardly relative to the aerosol container to open thevalve and discharge the contents from the aerosol container, saidtoggle-type actuator comprising a central section having a nozzleintegrally formed therewith with an intermediate adjacent section oneach side of the central section and a generally L- shaped sectionadjacent each of the intermediate sections, with the intermediatesection hinged to the central section and with the L-shaped sectionhinged to the intermediate section and wherein the outwardly extendingmeans is an integral part of the L-shaped section and is an extension,each of the extensions having a cutout whereby each of the cutouts isadapted to engage the adjacent edge of the side opening of the cap tolock the toggle-type actuator against reciprocal movement relative tothe cap.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 6 in which the L- shaped sectionhas an upwardly extending portion position ed inside the cap betweentheouter shell body and the inner funnel-shaped portion with the freeend of the upwardly extending portion adapted to engage an inclined ribinside the shell body to cause the central section to depress inwardlyagainst the valve stem to actuate same.

8. Actuator means for actuating the valve stem of an aerosol containerfor dispensing the material within the container, said means including acap adapted to be secured to the container and extend over the valvestem, said cap having an opening in the side thereof, a toggle-typeactuator having means extending within said cap and means extendingoutwardly of said side opening, said toggle-type actuator adapted to beoperatively connected to the valve stem so that when the outwardlyextending means is pressed inwardly the toggletype actuator will depressthe valve stem inwardly relative to the aerosol container to open thevalve and discharge the contents from the aerosol container, saidoutwardly extending means comprising an extension which extension hasmeans as an integral part thereof adapted when in locked position to bemoved and abut against the edge of the side opening to prevent theextension from being moved inwardly to thereby lock the toggle-typeactuator against operation.

9. A structure as set forth in claim 8 in which the cap is provided withdiametrically opposed side openings and in which the toggle-typeactuator has a pair of diametrically positioned outwardly extendingmeans extending outwardly of said opposed side openings which areadapted to be simultaneously pressed inwardly to operate the valve stem,each said outwardly extending means comprising an extension with atleast one of said extensions having integral means to be moved and abutagainst the edge of one of the side openings when in locked position toprevent the extension from being moved inwardly to thereby lock thetoggle-type actuator against operation.

10. A structure as set forth in claim 8 in which the toggle-typeactuator is integrally molded of a plastic material.

1. Actuator means for actuating the valve stem of an aerosol container for dispensing the material within the container, said means including a cap adapted to be secured to the container and extend over the valve stem, said cap having an opening in the side thereof, a toggle-type actuator having means extending within said cap and means extending outwardly of said side opening, said toggle-type actuator adapted to be operatively connected to the valve stem so that when the outwardly extending means is pressed inwardly the toggle-type actuator will depress the valve stem inwardly relative to the aerosol container to open the valve and discharge the contents from the aerosol container, said outwardly extending means comprising an extension which has a cutout adapted when in locked position to be moved against the edge of the side opening of the cap to prevent the extension from being moved inwardly to thereby lock the toggle-type actuator against operation.
 2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the toggle-type actuator comprises a central section having the nozzle formed as part of the central section, an intermediate adjacent section on each side of the central section and a generally L-shaped section adjacent each of the intermediate sections with the intermediate section hinged to the central section and with the L-shaped section hinged to the intermediate section, and wherein the L-shaped section has an extension extending outwardly of the cap through the side openings of the cap to be manually engaged.
 3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the toggle-type actuator is integrally molded of a plastic material.
 4. Actuator means for actuating the valve stem of an aerosol container for dispensing the material within the container, said means including a cap adapted to be secured to the container and extend over the valve stem, said cap having diametrically opposed side openings, a toggle-type actuator having means extending within said cap and a pair of diametrically positioned outwardly extending means extending outwardly of said opposed side openings, said toggle-type actuator adapted to be operatively connected to the valve stem so that when the outwardly extending means are simultaneously pressed inwardly the toggle-type actuator will depress the valve stem inwardly relative to the aerosol container to open the valve and discharge the contents from the aerosol container, each said outwardly extending means comprising an extensiOn which has a cutout with the cutouts facing in opposite directions and whereby each of the cutouts is adapted to engage the adjacent edge of the side opening to lock the toggle-type actuator against any manual inward pressure.
 5. A structure as set forth in claim 4 in which the toggle-type actuator is integrally molded of a plastic material.
 6. Actuator means for actuating the valve stem of an aerosol container for dispensing the material within the container, said means including a cap adapted to be secured to the container and extend over the valve stem, said cap having diametrically opposed side openings, a toggle-type actuator having means extending within said cap and a pair of diametrically positioned means extending outwardly of said opposed side openings, said toggle-type actuator adapted to be operatively connected to the valve stem so that when the outwardly extending means are simultaneously pressed inwardly the toggle-type actuator will depress the valve stem inwardly relative to the aerosol container to open the valve and discharge the contents from the aerosol container, said toggle-type actuator comprising a central section having a nozzle integrally formed therewith with an intermediate adjacent section on each side of the central section and a generally L-shaped section adjacent each of the intermediate sections, with the intermediate section hinged to the central section and with the L-shaped section hinged to the intermediate section and wherein the outwardly extending means is an integral part of the L-shaped section and is an extension, each of the extensions having a cutout whereby each of the cutouts is adapted to engage the adjacent edge of the side opening of the cap to lock the toggle-type actuator against reciprocal movement relative to the cap.
 7. A structure as set forth in claim 6 in which the L-shaped section has an upwardly extending portion positioned inside the cap between the outer shell body and the inner funnel-shaped portion with the free end of the upwardly extending portion adapted to engage an inclined rib inside the shell body to cause the central section to depress inwardly against the valve stem to actuate same.
 8. Actuator means for actuating the valve stem of an aerosol container for dispensing the material within the container, said means including a cap adapted to be secured to the container and extend over the valve stem, said cap having an opening in the side thereof, a toggle-type actuator having means extending within said cap and means extending outwardly of said side opening, said toggle-type actuator adapted to be operatively connected to the valve stem so that when the outwardly extending means is pressed inwardly the toggle-type actuator will depress the valve stem inwardly relative to the aerosol container to open the valve and discharge the contents from the aerosol container, said outwardly extending means comprising an extension which extension has means as an integral part thereof adapted when in locked position to be moved and abut against the edge of the side opening to prevent the extension from being moved inwardly to thereby lock the toggle-type actuator against operation.
 9. A structure as set forth in claim 8 in which the cap is provided with diametrically opposed side openings and in which the toggle-type actuator has a pair of diametrically positioned outwardly extending means extending outwardly of said opposed side openings which are adapted to be simultaneously pressed inwardly to operate the valve stem, each said outwardly extending means comprising an extension with at least one of said extensions having integral means to be moved and abut against the edge of one of the side openings when in locked position to prevent the extension from being moved inwardly to thereby lock the toggle-type actuator against operation.
 10. A structure as set forth in claim 8 in which the toggle-type actuator is integrally molded of a plastic material. 